How to Add XAU/USD to MT5 and Start Trading Gold
Gold does not always show up on MT5 when you first open the platform.
That does not mean anything is broken.
In many cases, XAU/USD is simply hidden from your Market Watch list. You just need to add it.
XAU/USD is gold priced in US dollars. On MT5, you may also see it written as XAUUSD.
Here is how to find it.
Add XAU/USD on MT5 Desktop
Open MetaTrader 5.
Look at the left side of the screen. You should see the Market Watch box with a list of symbols.
If gold is already there, you are done.
If you cannot see it, right-click inside Market Watch and choose Symbols.
A new window will open.
You will see different market groups. Find Metals and open that section.
Look for XAUUSD.
Click it, then choose Show Symbol.
Close the window.
XAU/USD should now appear inside Market Watch.
You can right-click the symbol and choose Chart Window if you want to open the gold chart.
MT5 desktop showing Market Watch and the Symbols option.
Metals folder open with XAUUSD selected.
Add XAU/USD on MT5 Mobile
The mobile version is just as easy.
Open the MT5 app and go to Quotes.
Tap the plus sign at the top.
Type XAUUSD into the search box.
When the gold symbol appears, tap it.
Go back to Quotes and you should see it in the list.
Tap XAU/USD if you want to open the chart, check prices, or place a trade.
MT5 mobile showing the XAUUSD search inside Quotes.
Can't Find XAU/USD?
This happens quite often.
Some brokers do not use the exact name XAUUSD.
You may see:
- XAUUSD
- XAUUSD.m
- XAUUSD#
- GOLD
- GOLDm
So if XAUUSD does not appear, search for gold or just XAU.
You can also open the Metals section and check the full list.
If nothing shows up, the account you are using may not offer gold.
There is another simple thing worth checking too: your connection.
If MT5 is offline or keeps showing “No Connection,” the symbol list may not load properly.
Ready to Apply This in Live Markets?
Open the XAU/USD Chart
Once gold is in Market Watch, you can open the chart.
On desktop, right-click XAU/USD and choose Chart Window.
On mobile, tap XAU/USD and choose Chart.
That gives you the live gold chart.
You can then switch between timeframes such as M5, M15, H1, or H4.
There is no single best MetaTrader 5 timeframe.
Someone trading short moves may use M5 or M15. Someone holding trades longer may prefer H1 or H4.
You can also add indicators if you use them.
Moving averages, RSI, MACD, and Bollinger Bands are all available inside MT5.
Once XAU/USD appears in Market Watch and the chart is open, the next step is learning how to trade gold on MT5.
XAU/USD chart open in MT5 with the timeframe menu visible.
Check the Gold Details Before Trading
Do not open a trade just because the symbol is now visible.
Check the contract details first.
On desktop, right-click XAU/USD and choose Specification.
You can see things like the minimum lot size, trading hours, contract size, and other settings.
These details are not always the same between brokers.
That matters with gold because the price can move quickly.
A small change in lot size can make a big difference to your risk.
If you're still learning the platform interface, start with our guide on how to trade mt5 for beginners.
How to Place a Gold Trade on MT5
Open XAU/USD and choose New Order.
Set your lot size.
Add a stop loss or take profit if your plan uses them.
Then choose Buy or Sell.
Buy means you expect gold to rise.
Sell means you expect gold to fall.
Once the order is open, you can see it inside the Trade tab.
You can also change your stop loss or close the trade from there.
If you are still getting used to MT5, use a demo account first.
It is a much easier way to learn where everything is without risking money.
XAU/USD tracks the price of gold against the US dollar. Our best gold trading guide covers the market, price drivers, trading sessions, and key risks.
Trade XAU/USD With Dominion Markets
Dominion Markets supports gold trading through MetaTrader 5.
Once your account is connected, you can add XAU/USD to Market Watch and trade from desktop or mobile.
You can also use MT5 charts, indicators, stop loss orders, and other built-in tools.
Dominion Markets offers access to MT5 and cTrader, with spreads from 0.1 pips*.
If gold is one of the markets you follow, open your Dominion Markets account, connect MT5, and add XAU/USD to your symbol list.
Ready to Apply This in Live Markets?
